Stabilization of combined foods and liquids

ABSTRACT

RECTIFICATION OF AW OF FOOD SOLID AND LIQUID PHASES IS EFFECTED UNTIL THEY APPROXIMATE ONE ANOTHER AND RESPECTIVELY HAVE AW&#39;&#39;S LESS THAN 0.90 AND MOISTURE CONTENTS LESS THAN 50% WHICH ALLOWS NOVEL SAUCES OR GRAVIES TO BE ADMIXED WITH FOOD SOLID WHILE IMPROVING SHELF STABILITY OF BOTH PHASES AND SUSTAINING THE DESIRABLE TEXTURAL ATTRIBUTES OF THE SOLID COMPONENTS.

United States Patent Olfice 3,694,233 Patented Sept. 26, 1972 3,694,233 STABILIZATION F COMBINED FOODS AND LIQUIDS Milton Kaplow, White Plains, and Joseph John Halik,

Ossining, N.Y., assignors to General Foods Corporation, White Plains, NY.

No Drawing. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 758,679, Sept. 10, 1968. This application July 29, 1970, Ser. No. 59,350 The portion of the term of the patent subsequent to Jan. 11, 1989, has been disclaimed Int. Cl. A231 3/34; A23b 7/14, 1/14' US. Cl. 99-150 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Rectification of the A of food solid and liquid phases is effected until they approximate one another and respectively have A s less than 0.90 and moisture contents less than 50% which allows novel sauces or gravies to be admixed with food solid while improving shelf stability of both phases and sustaining the desirable textural attributes of the solid components.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 758,679 filed Sept. 10, 1968.

The invention herein described was made in the course of and under a contract with the US. Army Natick Laboratories.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED- APPLICATIONS This application incorporates by reference copending applications Ser. Nos. 684,551 filed Nov. 20, 1967 for Food Processing and 684,952 filed Nov. 22, 1967 for Food Process and Product.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to microorganically stable, intimately mixed food products wherein animal or plant materials are intimately combined with an organoleptically compatible liquid the food product being intended for non-refrigerated storage and for consumption as such or for consumption in a more hydrated form. More specifically, the invention is concerned with the art of stabilizing such products as meat cuts and/ or plant material like beef and/or such vegetables as peppers, potatoes, onions, carrots, celery, or peas which are rendered shelf stable for non-refrigerated distribution and yet substantially retain their textural and other organoleptic qualities and are compatibly combined with an aqueous liquid having sauce or gravy characteristics which edify the liquid with desirable fat and/or thickened flavor and aroma values.

Troop rations should be desirably self-preserving and thus lend themselves to consumption under field conditions. The ration as eaten should be consumable as is or should lend itself to consumption simply by warming to a desired degree to produce a nutritious and satisfactorily tasting meal. While troop rations may be canned by commercial sterilization techniques, it would be desirable to have such a ration packaged more inexpensively, and in any event in a packaging material which is readily openable such as a flexible pouch-forming plastic. The food product should be compact, of light weight and low moisture and yet offer the desired caloric value required to sustain human metabolism. Ideally the product should impart a high practical level of caloric value compatible with organoleptic acceptability. Such a compact product should nevertheless offer identifiable food values such as color, shape, and texture representative of the food to be eaten.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a product meeting the foregoing troop ration specifications in a form wherein the food solids, be they animal tissue or plant tissue or mixtures thereof, substantially retain their flavor and textural identities when flavorfully combined with aqueous liquid preparations identifiable as sauces and/ or gravies. The object of the present invention illustratively stated is provision of a foodstuff as a stew in a substantially pathogen-free form which can be packed either anaerobically or aerobically and which can be transported to and in the field of combat without refrigeration. Still another object of the invention is to provide a troop ration which is readily stored and consumed in a variety of field conditions, be they tropical or artic, and which would desirably retain the intended taste, texture and other organoleptic food values under such a wide range of combat conditions. A most specific object of the invention is to provide a food ration consisting of food solids and liquids which may be consumed as is in the field even under the most unideal artic conditions and will offer desired textural attributes such as crispness, chewiness, soft ness and moistness as consumed, or will at least approach the product target to a greater extent than products of the known art.

Briefly stated the present invention involves infusion of a polyhydric alcohol within a food solid matrix in any one of a variety of degrees of subdivision and the formulation of distinct aqueous liquid also containing a polyhydric alcohol, said food solid and said aqueous liquid having moisture contents usually less than 40% respectively and having a total concentration of water soluble compounds respectively whereat the two dissimilar phases are anaerobically or aerobically stable depending upon the packaging techniques intended, it being a further fea ture of this invention that the respective water activities in the food solids and liquid phases are so related one to another that they equilibrate to one another during storage and retain their microorganic stability.

Thus, in a typical embodiment of the present invention a beef stew is formulated to contain beef chunks and whole or subdivided carrots, peas and potatoes, each of which are respectively dehydrated to a moisture content less than 50% and more ideally less than 45% through the infusion therein of a stabilizing solute containing a polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol; a gravy is formulated as an aqueous liquid containing a suitably emulsified fat and thickening colloid together with edifying flavorants, colorings, spices and the like-Which gravy is also of a moisture content less than 45 but has, as plasticizing solute therein, a significant level of polyhydric alcohols like glycerol serving to provide a flowable plastic or at least semi-plastic fluidity under the anticipated conditions of use be they of ambient temperate climates or artic conditions. The respective water activities of the dehydrated food solids phase and the liquid phase will be such that migration of aqueous fluids from one phase to the other will not result in a substantial change in the relative concentration of stabilizing solutes in the respective phases and commonly the level of soluble solids and moisture present in the solid phase and the liquid phase will substantially approximate one another such that any moisture migration that may occur incident to storage of the packaged foodstuif will be minimal and in any event will not adversely alter the textural qualities of the solid components to any significant degree through an imbalance of the concentration of stabilizing solutes 1n the food solid phase and the liquid phase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Generally the food solid phase will be dehydrated as that term is to be understood herein to a moisture level in the range between 20 and 45% whereat maximum organoleptic acceptability and food solid plasticity are provided, it being understood that the term dehydrated in the present instance applies to the comparative moisture level of the food solid relative to its hydrated condition in either the pristine or cooked state. Thus, it is within the ambit of the present invention that raw plant tissue or animal tissue may be dehydrated from a moisture content in excess of 60% to a moisture level of 20 to 50% whereat acceptable chevsu'ness, crispness, turgor and other desirable organoleptic qualities identified with specific food solid components are provided or the food solid may have been previously dehydrated to below 20% moisture but will be rehydrated to this stated range and as rehdyrated will, to a large extent, similarly provide the desired eating qualities intended, the latter rehydrated condition being comparatively one of dehydration vis a vis the raw or cooked condition of the food solid as it is normally available or prepared.

To explain further, vegetables such as carrots or peas in the raw form may be blanched and further cooked and eventually dehydrated from a moisture level of say in excess of 75% to a moisture level well below 50% by infusion of such produce with a stabilizing solution containing a high level of glycerol and other stabilizing solutes whereby the major portion of the food moisture present will undergo transfer from the food solid phase to the stabilizing solution in exchange for stabilizing solutes contained in said solution.

Other vegetables, such as celery, peppers, and onions, require only a 15 minute blanch in boiling water to arrest enzymatic activity prior to being infused with the stabilizing solution. Surprisingly, it has been determined that the blanched, but uncooked vegetable particles, after being infused with the stabilizing solution according to the processing techniques of the invention to be described in more detail hereinafter, remain definitely turgid and crisp even after months of storage.

For those food particles requiring cooking in addition to blanching, the technique will preferably call for procedures more fully set forth in co-pending application Ser. No. 684,551 filed Nov. 20, 1967 by Milton Kaplow and Joseph Halik entitled Food Process; in accordance with the teachings of that application foodstuffs having a moisture content in excess of 50% are stabilized by immersing them in a coo-king solution containing at least 5% polyhydric alcohol and preferably high in concentration of other stabilizing solutes selected from the class consisting of sugars, salts and mixtures thereof. The food is preferably treated in this solution for a suflicient period of time to at least thermally deactivate any latent enzymatic and pathogenic activity. The solution is used in an excess amount sufiicient to permit immersion cooking of the foodstuff and cause it to undergo a water substitution by the stabilizing solution; in this manner the stabilizing solute, including the polyhydric alcohol, replaces a substantial and usually a major percent of the original moisture content of the food.

As an alternative process of dehydration in accordance with the precepts of the present invention, food solids are converted to a semi-moist stabilized condition typically from a freeze-dried state and are adjusted upwardly to a moisture content in excess of 20% by infusing the produce with an aqueous stabilizing solution containing a polyhydric alcohol whereby the moisture level of the produce has ultimately a moisture content between 20 and 50% and is caused to contain a level of polyhydric alcohol generally in excess of 5% of the weight of total water soluble solids present in the produce; this dehydrated condition in the ultimately stabilized foodstuff is understood to appertain by reason of the comparative moisture content of the foodstuff vis a vis that moisture content which is possessed in its pristine or cooked condition which generally is in excess of 60% and commonly is in excess of 70%. Foods dehydrated in accordance with this latter technique are treated commonly in accordance with the teaching set forth in co-pending application Ser. No. 684,952 filed Nov. 22, 1967 by Milton Kaplow and Joseph Halik entitled Food Process and Product. In general, foods in a substantially desiccated condition, e.g., ones having a moisture content less than 20% and commonly less than 10%, are caused to be infused by a high concentration of solutes in solution which solutes preferably and ideally contain a plasticizing polyhydric alcohol such as glycerol in the amount stated herein, whereby the foodstuff in an at least pasteurized and preferably fully cooked state is uniformly infused so that the animal tissue or vegetable tissue, typically beef or carrots and peas as illustrated hereinabove, have their morphology uniformly infused with a high concentration of stabilizing solutes sufficient to increase the osmotic pressure of the aqueous solution created therein.

For purposes of the present specification the teachings of the aforesaid Kaplow et a1. applications identified are incorporated by reference herein and are to be fully considered as having been adopted by applicants herein as part of the teachings of their invention, it being understood, however, that the concentration of stabilizing solutes in all instances must be so rectified as to be in proximate water activity balance with the stabilized aqueous liquids surrounding the foodstuffs as will be described hereinafter.

The aqueous liquid, be it a gravy or sauce, depending upon the condiments added thereto and the flavor intended, will commonly have a significant level of fat and thickening colloids such as starch, dextrins or flour to gether with seasonings, coloring, spices and the like and will be formulated to be in an essentially flowable liquid state under ambient conditions, under temperate climes and where artic conditions are contemplated. Said aqueous phase will also be essentially plastic and toa large extent fiowable or spoonable under such environments. To formulate such a stable, aqueous liquid, a significant level of polyhydric alcohol, typical of which will be glycerol, as well as salt and/or sugar compatible with flavor will be placed in solutions in the aqueous media which will generally range in moisture content from 20 to 40% content and be less than 45% by weight of the total sauce or gravy ;n the composite of liquid and solids as packed in ration orm.

Water activity of the respective food solids and liquid phases described herein will be predetermined in order that the phases will provide requisite bacteria-static and overall microorganic stability under the anticipated conditrons of treatment preparatory to packaging, during packaglng and during storage. Such stability determination will be made by formulating the respective solid and liquid phases so as to provide a desired A i.e., the relatively humidity of a headspace atmosphere in equilibrium with the food or liquid, A being customarily expressed as a decimal fraction of one and being so expressed herein and said atmosphere being understood to be that sensed by a hygrometer in a substantially hermetically sealed chamber. Thus, the A can be determined by inserting the specimen in an air-tight jar and after storage for a suitable period of 24 hours to assure equilibrium, the relative humidity of the air or headspace in the jar will be measured using a hygrometer.

For most applications contemplated herein, the respective solid and liquid phases will both have A s of 0.60 to 0.90, the specific A of use being dependent on the nature of the food and liquid phase primarily. Generally,

it will be preferred to formulate such phases at an A above 0.75 inasmuch as most foods are more flavorful and organoleptically acceptable at the higher A On the other hand, as one approaches the upper part of the range, it becomes more diflicult to consistently preserve the particular solid and liquid phases, and so most products will cautiously have an A less than about 0.85. The A s to which the respective solid and liquid phases are adjusted during formulation and infusion prior to packaging will be such that upon packaging any equilibration that may take place between the respective phases due to imbalance of A will not detract from organoleptic acceptability and stability. In most food applications in accordance with this invention it has been found that the food solid phase and the liquid phase can be formulated prior to packaging at an A wherein the respective phases substantially approximate one another or, in any event, do not deviate from one another by more than .10 and more commonly by no more than .05. On the other hand, the invention is not to be restricted to such a practice inasmuch as some food applications may involve the formulation of food solid and liquid phases having a wider deviation of A and which readjust with one another to the desired range. The most preferred range of A for the respective food phases as packaged upon achieving such equilibration will be .80 to .85 with care being exercised at the upper water activity factor against possible instability.

The solid and liquid phases will preferably be separately infused and formulated to achieve the desired pasteurization or sterilization as well as A rectification by solute infusion, but the invention may also be practiced by efiectin-g rectification of both the solid and liquid phases in the presence of one another. For most applications the food solid will have the desired stabilizing solutes infused therein by immersion so as to cause dehydration from the raw state to less than 50% by transfer with the infusing solu tion. Collateral to this stabilization the liquid to be admixed with this food solid will be formulated separately and caused to have the desired level of stabilizing solutes also in the aforestated reduced moisture range. On the other hand, it is within the ambit of this invention to employ the infusing solution as the liquid phase such as by rectification of the solids and moisture content of the infusing solution after it has been employed to cause dehyration of the food solid.

The invention will be found to be applicable to the formulation of such products as beef, lamb and meat and vegetable stews generally as well as casserole preparations having meat and/ or fish in admixture with vegetables and grains such as rice and/or pasta foods such as noodles, macaroni in various shapes. The liquid phase will be so formulated as to have the desired rheological characteristics compatible with food acceptability. In most applications, the gnavy or sauce will be fluid but comparatively plastic or thickened in character. The liquid phase will, thus, be formulated to contain fat and/ or colloids such as starches, dextrins, flour, as well as the condiments or spices and the water.

Customarily, it will be found practical to pasteurize the food solids phase by infusion at an elevated temperature, say in excess of 160 F., the pasteurization being carried out sufficiently to at least kill any pathogens and inactivate enzyme; a common range of immersion heating temperatures will be 180 F. to 210 F. for 15 to 25 minutes depending upon desired product texture of the food solids phase.

Certain food particulates, especially vegetables such as onions, peppers, and celery are usually included in the finished product combination of solid and liquid in the raw or uncooked state. These materials are infused with the stabilizing solution at room temperature or lower subsequent to being blanched in boiling water for 15 seconds for the purpose of enzymatic deactivation.

In the case of the liquid phase prolonged heat treatment may be less critical and usually any heat treatment will be employed that is suflicient to promote fluidity in the admixture of the fat and/or thickness with the aqueous and other liquids in the medium; thus, it may be desirable to elevate the temperature of the liquid to melt the fatty constituents thereof and to promote suflicient emulsification to assure physical stability and minimize segrelgatiocrli of the aqueous and non-aqueous phases of the iqui As distinguished from canned stew and like preparations of the prior art, the compositions of the present invention are intended to be packaged without commercial sterilization and advantageously may be cooled to subpasteurization temperatures prior to packaging, say to temperatures below F., thereby allowing greater manufacturing flexibility and a less expensive substantially non-hermetic package. On the other hand, it is not intended to foreclose the practice of hermetic packaging, or at least, combining the food solid and liquid phases at above pasteurization temperatures. Likewise, the invention may be practiced to advantage by use of hermetic anaerobic packaging, the food solid and liquid phases being at sub-pasteurization temperatures and the composition being thereby preserved in an oxygen-free atmosphere whereby rancidity, color changes and light decomposition are avoided, or at least reduced. In all of the foregoing packaging applications, by virtue of the built-in microbial stability, leaks, pinholes or minor imperfections in packaging material, such as may be caused in handling, will not give rise to spoilage. The ration, of course, will be of lighter weight, not only due to the concentration of the foods per se, but also due to use of lighter packaging materials such as poleythylene-coated foil and the like, which packaging materials are also flexible and lend themselves to a wider variety of shapes and sizes depending upon ration packaging requirements.

The invention will now be more fully described by reference to the accompanying operative examples.

EXAMPLE I Beef stew with gravy A beef stewwith gravy was formulated from the following individual constituents:

Liquid phase, gravy formulation Moisture content=17.4 (vacuum-oven method) A =0.79

The gravy phase was prepared simply by warming to above the congeal point of the fat and blending in a mixer.

Food solid phase Fresh green peas were immersion cooked in the manner set forth in aforesaid Kaplow et a1. application Ser. No. 684,551; the peas were immersed in the infusing solution for ten minutes, the infusion solution being at a temperature of 208 F., whereafter the peas were allowed to soak overnight and were withdrawn.

The following was the and infusion solution:

weight constituency of the peas Percent Grams Peas fresh, shelled:

Solids 22.0 277.2 Moisture 78. 982. 8

Infusion solution:

Glycer 78. 4 1, 143.0 Water 11.0 160. Sodium chloride-.- 6.2 90.0 Propylene glycol- 4. 1 60. 0 Potassium sorbate 3 4. 5

No'rmFMoisture content=39A (vacuum-oven method) Percent Grams Fresh raw carrot dices ($4-W),

Carrots, peeled, trimmed:

Solids 11. 0 275 Moisture. 89. 0 2, 225

Total 100. 0 2, 600

Iniusion solution:

Goycer 3, 155 ater 197 Sodium chlorid 130 Propylene glycol 56 otassinm sorba 19 Total 3, 557

Norm-Moisture content=35.7 (vacuum-oven method). Aw=O.71.

Percent Grams Total 100. 0 4, 620. 0

Infusion solution:

lycerol 56. 6 2, 112.0 Seasonings- 19. 8 739. 2 Water 8. 0 300. 0 Sodium chloride.. 7. 4 277. 2 Propylene glycol. 7. 1 264. 0 Potassium sorbate 1. 1 39. 0

Total 100. 0 3, 782.0

Norm-Moisture content=31.0 (vacuum-oven method). Aw=0.77.

Percent Grams Fresh raw potato pieces ,potatoes,peeled, diced:

Solids 20.0 1, 000. 0 Moisture 80. 0 4, 000. 0

Total 100. 0 5. 000.0

Infusion solution:

Gly 01 80. 4 4, 687. 5

4.3 250.0 Propylene glyc0l 4. 3 250.0 Potasium sorbate 6 37. 5

Total 100. 0 5, 835. 0

N Ora-Moisture content =36.8 (vacuum-oven method). A =0.79.

Composite beef stew with gravy and food solids phases Percent Infused gravy 50. 0 Infused potato pieces 20. 0 Infsed beef pieces 15.0 Infused carrot dices 7. 5 Infused peas 7. 5

Total 100. 0

N o'rE.--Moistu.re content=26.2 (vacuum-oven method). Aw=0.78.

The foregoing food solids and the gravy phases were simply mixed, mixing being carried out in a Hobart blender until a uniform distribution of solid and liquid phases was achieved. In composite, the stew is a spoonable plastic aggregation which can be stored as such under ambient room temperatures preparatory to packaging or may be packaged directly from the mixer using aerobic, subpasteurization temperatures. Preferably, the composite will be cold packed in a flexible pouch and heat-sealed in a gaseous nitrogen atmosphere.

EXAMPLE H Chicken a la King A chicken a la king preparation was formulated as follows:

Percent Ingredient Percent Aw moisture Cream sauce 53. 8 855 19. 6 Chicken 41.0 836 37. 6 Mushrooms- 2. 60 823 38. 6 PiIneI1t0 1. 34 850 25. 7 Peppers 1. 26 820 39. 2

Norm-Approx. overall Aw oi casserole 845. Approx. overall percent moisture of casserole=31.2%.

The sauce for the chicken a la king casserole was prepared from the following list of ingredients:

The sauce ingredients were combined essentially in accordance with the procedure set forth for the gravy constituents in Example I above. The following are the formulations for the respective infusion solutions and the ratios thereof to the chicken, mushrooms, pimento and peppers infused.

INFUSING SOLUTIONS FOR VARIOUS VEGETABLES AND CHICKEN Canned drained Canned Fresh, green Raw trimmed pimento mushroom trimmed w ite meat pieces slices peppers chicken (7.6% solids, (12.8% solids, (6.8% solids, (26.3% solids, 92.4% water) 87.2% water) 93.2% water) 73.7% water) Weightof material, gm 334 226 673 1,928

66. 6 64. 6 67. 8 39. 70 24. 9 31. 7 25. 7 45. 4. 8 3. 2 6. 0 4. 50 Seasoning 10. Propylene glycol 3. 2 Potassium sorbate 0. 5 0. 5 0. 5 0. 65 Weight of solution, gm 634 482. 7 1, 276. 1 3,864. 7 Infused product:

Moisture, percent 43. 4 46. 8 42. 0 42. 6 w 0. 85 O. 83 0. 82 0. 836

The chicken was infused to the tabulated moisture con- EXAMPLE IV tent and A using an infusion solution and procedure substantially as set forth hereinabove in respect to Example I for the cubed beef.

The mushrooms, pimentos and peppers were blanched in a customary manner to deactivate the enzymes therein by immersion in Water and cooking for a period of from two to five minutes at 200 F. whereafter the blanched vegetables were soaked in an infusion solution like that set forth for infusing the peas or carrots and until the desired A and percent moisture listed in respect of the chicken a la king constituents above was obtained, soaking being employed for a period of 24-48 hours.

The sauce and food solids of the chicken a la king formulation were admixed and packaged as illustrated in respect of the stew or operative Example I.

EXAMPLE HI Ham in cream sauce Ham in cream sauce was prepared as follows:

Ingredient Percent Aw Moisture Cream sauce-.. 60.0 860 19. s H 40. 0 .850 46.1

Total 100.0

NOTE.APP1'0X. overall Aw of casserole=.862. Approx. overall percent moisture of casserole=34.6%.

A cream sauce was prepared having the following for- The sauce was prepared in a manner like that employed to prepare the sauce in Example H and the gravy in Example I as aforesaid.

The sliced ham which had been precooked was simply soak-infused in stabilizing solutes using the cubed beef stabilizing solution and procedure as before until the stated percent moisture and resulting A was achieved. The infusion occurring over a period of from 24-48 hours as before.

The ham and cream sauce preparations were packaged in the same procedure as set forth for Example I.

Tuna in cream sauce Tuna in cream sauce was prepared as follows:

Ingredient Percent Afl Moisture Mushrooms 2. 4 0. 83 51. 4

Total 100. 0

No'rE.-Approx. overall Aw of Casserole=0.84. Approx. overall m0lsture content of casserole=34.3%.

Glycerol 53.6 Water Sodium chloride 7.1 Potassium sorbate 0.7

Moisture content 38.8 A 0.81 Weight ratio of solutionztuna 12.7

Frozen peas were thawed and cooled at 95-98 C. for 10 minutes in an infusion solution, soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same liquid and drained. Peas, frozen, thawed, percent by weight:

Solids 19.3 Moisture 80.7

Infusion solution for peas:

Glycerol 49.2 Water 45.4 Sodium chloride 4.9 Potassium sorbate 0.5

Moisture content, percent 50.2 A 0.83 Weight ratio solutiompeas 5:2

Frozen carrot dices were thawed and cooked at 95-98" C. for 15 minutes in an infusion solution, soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same liquid and drained. The resulting intermediate moisture carrot dices had acceptable eating qualities and water activity. The infusion solution used and the finished product water activity and moisture data were as follows:

Carrots, diced, frozen, thawed, percent by weight:

Solids 11.8 Moisture 88.2

Infusion solution for carrot dices:

Glycerol 59.2 Water 34.7 Sodium chloride 5.5 Potassium sorbate 0.6

Moisture content, percent 51.5 A 0.81 Weight ratio of solutionzcarrots 2:1

Canned, sliced mushrooms (approximately thick) were soaked for about 36 hours under refrigeration in an infusion solution and drained. The resulting intermediate moisture mushroom slices had acceptable eating qualities and water activity. The infusion solution employed and the finished food solid measurements are shown below.

Mushrooms, sliced, canned, drained, percent by weight:

The complete tuna in cream sauce casserole was prepared by blending the components and packaging it in the same procedure as set forth for Example 1.

EXAMPLE V Hungarian goulash A Hungarian goulash preparation was formulated as follows: i

Ingredients Percent Aw Moisture Egg Noodles 36. 0. 84 48. 0

Onions 8. 0 0. 85 58. 5

Total 100. 0

Norm-Approximate overall Aw of Hungarian goulash casserole: gm yApproximate overall moisture of Hungarian goulash casserole= The sauce was formulated using the basic system of the cream sauce for the tuna in cream sauce casserole (Example IV) with modifications for color and flavor. Preparation was similar to that for the cream sauce used in Example IV. Following is a list of the ingredients used in the sauce:

Ingredients: Percent by weight Winterized cottonseed oil 29.9690 Water 25.7500 Glycerol 15.0000 Fresh egg yolk 10.0000 Coconut oil (76 F. congeal point) 6.0000 Corn syrup solids 5.2900 Sodium chloride 2.7500 Sucrose 2.0015 Seasonings & salt 0.7500 Paprika 0.7000 Onion powder 0.5000 Potassium phosphate 0.4000 Potassium sorbate 0.3000 Citric acid 0.2000 Caramel color 0.1500 Garlic powder 0.1000 Beta-carotene 0.1000 Imitation tomato flavor 0.0210 FD & C Red #2 0.0101 FD & C Yellow #5 0.0066 FD & C Yellow #6 0.0013 FD & C Blue #1 0.0005

100.0000 The color was pre-dissolved in the water, glycerol phase.

The tomato flavor was pre-blended with the winterized cottonseed oil and the coconut oil. After completion, the

sauce was heated to C. to thicken and stabilize.

Following are the formulae for infusing constituents for treating the egg noodles, onion pieces, and beef:

Egg noodles5 minute boil, percent by weight:

Solids 26.3 Moisture 63.7 Infusion solution:

Glycerol 46.6 Water 46.5 Sodium chloride 6.3 Potassium sorbate 0.6

Approximate moisture content 48.0 W 0.84 Weight ratio of solutionzegg noodles 5:2

The egg noodles were cooked for 5 minutes in boiling water and drained, then cooked at -98 C. for 4 minutes in the infusion solution and soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same liquid and drained. The resulting intermediate moisture noodles had acceptable eating qualities and water activity.

Onion pieces, percent by weight:

Solids 10.9 Moisture 89.1

Infusion solution:

Water 46.1 Glycerol 47.1 Sodium chloride 6.3 Potassium chloride 0.5

Moisture content, percent 58.5

Weight ratio of solutiomonion pieces 2:1

The raw onion slices thick) were cut into segments (1%" long, V4" wide) and soaked overnight in the 13 infusion solution under refrigeration and drained. The resulting intermediate moisture onion pieces had acceptable eating qualities and water activity.

Beef chunks, percent by weight:

Solid 35.0 Moisture 65.0

Infusion solution:

Water 45.9 Glycerol 34.3 Seasonings & salt 13.6 Sodium chloride 5.4 Potassium sorbate 0.8

Moisture content, percent 44.5 A 0.82 Weight ratio of solutionzbeef chunks 2:1

The foregoing food solids and gravy phases for the Hungarian goulash casserole were mixed in a Hobart blender until a uniform distribution of solid and liquid phases was achieved. In composite, the goulash is a spoonable plastic aggregation which can be stored as such under ambient room temperature conditions preparatory to packaging or may be packaged directly from the mixer using aerobic, sub-pasteurization temperatures. The Hungarian goulash will be cold packed in a flexible pouch and heat-sealed in a gaseous nitrogen atmosphere.

EXAMPLE VI Irish stew An Lrish stew was formulated as follows:

Ingredients Percent A. Moisture Norm-Irish stew casserole moisture eontent=40.4%. A'=0.86.

The Irish stew gravy was formulated using the basic system of the cream sauce with modifications for color and flavor. Preparation was similar to that for the cream sauce as illustrated in Example The formulation for the Irish stew gravy was as follows:

Ingredients, percent by weight:

The lamb aroma was pre-blended with the winterized cottonseed oil, the coconut oil ingredients. After comple- 14 tion, the gravy was heated to 85 C. to thicken and stabilize.

Following are the formulations for the respective infusion solutions for the lamb, potatoes, onions, carrots, and peas.

Lamb pieces, percent by weight:

Solids 27.0 Moisture 73.0

Infusion solution for lamb pieces:

Water 47.4 Glycerol 44.3 Sodium chloride 7.4 Potassium sorbate 0.9

Moisture, percent 40.2 w 0 86 Weight ratio of solutionzlamb pieces 2:1

Raw drained leg of lamb pieces (Va-1 cubes) were cooked at 95-98" C. in the infusion solution for 17 minutes, and then soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same liquid and then drained.

Raw potato slices, percent by weight:

Solids 20.0 Moisture 80.0

Infusion solution for potato slices:

Water 49.3 Glycerol 1 43.3 Sodium chloride 6 9 Potassium sorbate 0 5 Moisture, percent 53.1 w 0.87 Weight ratio of solution: potato slices 12:5

The raw potato slices x 1" x 1") were cooked at 95-98 C., for 18 minutes in the infusion solution and soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same solution and then drained.

Onions-small, frozen, whole, percent by weight:

Solids Moisture 89.0

Infusion solution for onions:

Glycerol 58 1 Water 34 3 Sodium chloride 6.4 Potassium phosphate 0.5 60 Potassium sorbate 0 5 Citric acid 0 2 Moisture, percent 59.8 A 0.85 Weight ratio of solutionzonions 2:1

Frozen small whole onions were thawed and cooked in the infusion solution at -98 C. for 8 minutes and soaked overnight under refrigeration in the same liquid and drained.

The carrot dices and peas and their respective infusion formulations for the Irish stew casserole were the same as those employed for the preparation of the tuna in cream sauce casserole (Example IV).

EXAMPLE VII Sweet and sour pork A sweet and sour pork preparation was formulated as follows:

Ingredients Percent Aw Moisture Pork 42. 5 0. 81 41. 2 Sauce. 42. 5 0. 85 34. 9 Carrots" 6. 0. 81 51. Pineapple 6. 0 0. 85 43. 0 Celery 3. 0 0. 83 39. 6

ork casserole=44.1%.

Norrgg-Moisture content of sweet and sour The sauce for the sweet and sour pork casserole was prepared from the following list of ingredients:

Sauce ingredient, percent by weight:

Glycerol 25.00 Catsup 23.84 Water 15.00 Vinegar 13.50 Sucrose 1 1.84 Corn syrup solid 4.22 Sodium chloride 2.59 Corn starch 2.30 Monosodium glutamate 1.15 Potassium sorbate 0.30 Mustard powder 0.23 Onion powder 0.02 Garlic powder 0.01

Moisture content, percent 34.9 A 0.85

The sweet and sour sauce was formulated based on a recipe found to have satisfactory eating qualities. Glycerol was substituted for part of the water to lower the water activity. In the preparation, the potassium sorbate was dissolved in the water, followed by the glycerol and sodium chloride. A premix of all the other ingredients, except the catsup and vinegar, was then blended with the water phase and heated to 98% C. for 8 minutes. Catsup and vinegar were then well blended into the sauce mixture for completion.

Following are the formulations for the respective infusion solutions for the pork pieces, carrot dices, pineapple pieces and celery pieces:

Pork pieces, raw-trimmed, percent by weight:

Solids 30.0 Moisture 70.0

Infusion solution for pork pieces:

Glycerol 45.6 Water 43.2 Sodium chloride 10.5 Potassium sorbate 0.7

Moisture content, percent 41.2 A 0.81 Weight ratio of solution: pork pieces 4: 3

16 Pineapple chunks, canned, dnained, percent by weight:

Solids 2 Moisture 73.0

Infusion solution for pineaple pieces:

Glycerol 55.0 Sucrose 23.0 Water 21.5 Potassium sorbate 0.5

Moisture content, percent 43.0 A 0.85 Weight ratio of solution: pineapple chunks 2:1

The canned pineapple pieces were drained and soaked 48 hours under refrigeration in the infusion solution and then drained.

The raw celery stalks were sliced into A" cross sections, blanched in boiling Water for 15 seconds, quenched in ice water and then soaked overnight under refrigeration in the infusion solution and then drained.

The intermediate moisture carrot dice formulation for the sweet and sour pork casserole was the same as that prepared for the tuna in cream sauce casserole (Example IV).

The package preparations of Example I-VII offer a microbial stability for all of the anticipated ration requirements therefor. The products are respectively formulated to be eaten as is or with additional water. The preparations can be eaten cold as well as warm. The products can be eaten under a range of storage temperatures and will be admirably suited to consumption under artic conditions as Well as temperate climes. The compositions essentially withstand storage with no significant changes in their organoleptic values such as sauce or gravy stability or color texture or flavor changes in the food solids.

As stated hereinbefore, those vegetables, such as celery, peppers and onions, which are included in the various stews and casseroles in the uncooked state, having at most, a 15 minute blanch in boiling water to arrest enzymatic activity before being infused with these respective stabilizing solutions, have been demonstrated to remain definitely turgid and crisp after several months of storage as ingredients in the food compositions of this invention. In fact, after four months storage at 38 C., it was noted that the green pepper, onion and celery in the stored samples of the products of this invention were crispier than comparative ingredients in commercial canned or frozen products used as controls. This characteristic was especially remarkable considering the time of storage and the fact these items usually lose their turgidity on being heated prior to consumption.

While the invention has been described by reference to certain illustrative examples, it will be understood that they are subject to variations to suit taste, appearance and overall organoleptic acceptance. Generally, the ratio of sauce or gravy liquid phase to the food solid phase will be in the neighborhood of equal weights, with the ratio of the respective phases one to the other varying in weight percent between a range of -25% from an equal weight relationship. Thus, the liquid phase may be anywhere from 25150% by weight of the total admixture of food solids phase and liquid phases.

It will be understood that the stabilizing solutes of use for both the food solids phase and the liquid phase will preferably contain such polyhydric alcohols as glycerol, sorbitol or mannitol or mixtures thereof, glycerol being the most preferred. Propylene glycol may also be employed as a polyhydric alcohol, although its use level should be reduced below 2%. The term polyhydric alcohol is to be understood as co-extensive with that term as employed in the aforesaid pending Kaplow et al. application Ser. No. 684,551 as set forth on pages 6, 7, and 8 thereof. The terms sugar and salt will also be understood to be co-extensive with the illustrations for those compounds listed on pages 12 and 13 of said latter Kaplow et al., application.

Reference should be had to the appended claims for a definition of the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for imparting microorganic stability to a spoonable intimately mixed food product, such as a beef stew, intended for non-refrigerated storage consisting essentially of a solids phase selected from the group consisting of cooked meat pieces, cooked vegetables, uncooked blanched vegetables, and mixtures thereof combined with an aqueous liquid phase selected from the group consisting of gravy and sauce which comprises:

(a) infusing the solids phase at below cooking temperature with an effective concentration of microorganically stabilizing solutes selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, sorbitol, glycerol, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof to produce a solids phase having a moisture content ranging from about to about 45% by weight of the solids phase and to establish a solids phase A of about 0.60 to about 0.90 without cooking the uncooked blanched vegetables;

(b) independently from the infused solids phase, formulating the aqueous liquid phase to contain an effective level of microorganically stabilizing solutes selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, glycerol, sorbitol, propylene glycol, and mixtures thereof to establish an aqueous liquid phase having a moisture content of 20% to 40% and an A which differs by less than 0.1 from the A of the solids phase;

(c) combining said infused solids phase with said aqueous liquid phase by intimately mixing the respective phases, and

(d) packaging said mixed phases in a substantially moisture impermeable container whereby moisture migration between said phases is minimal,

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the uncooked blanched vegetable is selected from the group consisting of celery, onions, and peppers.

3. The process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase is formulated to contain a fat.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the liquid phase is formulated to contain a colloid selected from the group consisting of starch, dextrin, flour, and mixtures thereof.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the food product contains an antimycotic agent.

6. The process according to claim 5 wherein the antimycotic agent is potassium sorbate.

7. The process according to claim 1 wherein the solids phase has an A ranging from about 0.75 to about 0.85 and the A of the liquid phase differs in value from the A of the solids phase by less than 0.05.

8. A spoonable food composition having microorganic stability when stored in a substantially moisture impermeable package at non-refrigerated temperature conditions which comprises:

(a) a solids phase comprised of food pieces selected from the group consisting of cooked meat pieces, cooked vegetable pieces, uncooked blanched vegetable pieces and mixtures thereof, the moisture content of the solids phase is 20% to 45% by weight of the food pieces and infused with microorganically stabilizing solutes at below cooking temperatures selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and mixtures thereof to the extent whereof the solids phase water activity ranges from about 0.60 to about 0.90, said solids phase intimately mixed with and immersed in (b) an aqueous liquid phase selected from the group consisting of gravy and sauce, said aqueous liquid phase having a level of solutes selected from the group consisting of sugars, salts, glycerol, propylene glycol, sorbitol, and mixtures thereof which impart to the aqueous liquid phase a moisture content of 20% to 40% and a water activity which differs by less than 0.1 from the water activity of the solids phase.

9. A spoonable food product according to claim 8 wherein the solids phase water activity ranges from about 0.75 to about 0.85 and the aqueous liquid phase water activity differs by less than 0.05 from the water activity of the solids phase.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,420,517 5/1947 Brandner 99-204 NORMAN YUDKOFF, Primary Examiner M. G. MULLEN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

